International efforts to degrade the Houthis’ capabilities and to protect maritime trade have failed to deter the militant group’s attacks and have not been enough to get shipping to return to the Red Sea

Insurers fear there might be a deliberate shift toward targeting merchant vessels

Although vessels berthed in Ukrainian ports have always been at risk of becoming collateral damage, it is unusual for so many to be hit within such a short period

‘The current prices are why it doesn’t make sense right now to trade with Ukraine, and while the latest attacks are widely spoken about, I’ve seen no consequences in terms of prices or insurance,’ said Filipe Gonzaga, managing director at Bryce, a Swiss agri-commodities trading firm 

It has been 49 days since the Houthis attacked the Delta Tankers suezmax Sounion, but salvors have finally extinguished the 18 separate fires that have been burning

A crew member on board panamax bulk carrier Jawor noticed that a seal was missing in a void space and discovered what is thought to be more than half a tonne of cocaine

Ukrainian foreign minister denounces Russian ‘terrorist’ attacks on shipping after a Palau-flagged ship is hit by a Russian missile hours after arriving at Odesa

Salvors boarded the stricken tanker in September once it was finally towed to safety more than three weeks after it was first attacked

The incident raises familiar questions about the quality and consistency of private security teams on board vessels transiting what is now an active warzone

The shipment is the latest example of Russia being willing to use deceptive practices to sustain the transport of suspicious cargoes

Houthis ended a month-long lull in attacks by targeting what they erroneously describe as a ‘British oil ship’. The haphazard targeting has further fuelled fears that rumoured Russian missiles could be about to increase the risk for ships beyond the Red Sea

The Joint Industry Security Group of shipping industry associations has released ‘industry transit advice’ on Red Sea transits. No Houthi attacks have been reported to the UKMTO during the past two weeks, although the militants attempted to strike central Israel in the early hours of Friday